12v In A Caravan - Qualified Person?

[John Bridgett]

Hi,
Can any of you advise me, I've been told that to do work on the 12v circuits in a caravan a person must be qualified, if youre not, youre breaking the law. I am an electrican by trade (not currently working as a sparky), but I'm not well up on the regs. I find it very hard to believe that this is the case. He's stating "BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations is also known as the IET Wiring Regulations" covers it, I'm still not convinced.

I would appreciate your comments, you guys are far more conversant with todays regs.

 

[Charlie_]

The legal restrictions placed on electrical works are mainly the building regs & eawr..
The 12v side of caravans come under no such legal constraints

 

[Aurai]

All Electrical Systems are covered, but risk of electrical shock/injury etc. can vary by many factors including voltage. 12v DC has its own risks that need to be understood, but rarely does anywhere require qualifications. Regards

 

[Strima]

Ask them which law you would be breaking.

 

[MJPD29]

I very much doubt you'll be breaking any laws

 

[Aurai]

We kept the local fire brigade busy with a 12v DC fire that got out of hand and ruined a boat! That was a dead short across a battery, so plenty of heat generated. Good practice is important! Regards

 

[static zap]

Fuses and an understanding of wire sizes help prevent fire.
(as cheap Chinese reversing cams can combust !)

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Chapter 721 and Appendix A721 of BS7671 cover wiring inside caravans.
The Chapter is more to do with LV and the Appendix for ELV.

 

[ruston]

I have worked on, and seen more fire damage on vehicles than I have on mains voltage fires . Shorted batteries take no prisoners. Treat it with respect.

 

[Strima]

This one was a dead short due to a very dodgy wiring set up on a UPS.

 

[littlespark]

Fuses and an understanding of wire sizes help prevent fire.
(as cheap Chinese reversing cams can combust !)

Oh heck... now you tell me. I fitted an Ebay special to me van!

 

[static zap]

...... I fitted an Ebay special to me van....

My m8 did his unassisted ... and may have let tree branches / sticks beat it up ! ( on a roof bar )

 

[45140]

Ask them which law you would be breaking.

Electricity at Work Regulations - Section 2. There are no voltage limits set out in the Regs. Clause 20 on page of the Guidance (HSR25) explains.
Regulation 16 requires competence.....
No person shall be engaged in any work activity where technical knowledge or experience is necessary to prevent danger or, where appropriate, injury, unless he possesses such knowledge or experience, or is under such degree of supervision as may be appropriate having regard to the nature of the work.

 

[Strima]

Electricity at Work Regulations - Section 2. There are no voltage limits set out in the Regs. Clause 20 on page of the Guidance (HSR25) explains.
Regulation 16 requires competence.....
No person shall be engaged in any work activity where technical knowledge or experience is necessary to prevent danger or, where appropriate, injury, unless he possesses such knowledge or experience, or is under such degree of supervision as may be appropriate having regard to the nature of the work.

It doesn't state qualified though. That sentence points towards competence rather than qualifications.

 

[45140]

It doesn't state qualified though. That sentence points towards competence rather than qualifications.

The HSE use the word qualification very sparingly indeed because all a qualification confers is that one has passed the end of course examination, or in some cases simply completed a course.
For the purposes of Health & Safety Law, competence is defined as having adequate, suitable, and sufficient knowledge, skills, experience and training.

A qualification will only be really meaningful if it has been backed up by the acquisition of knowledge, experience and skills. For example whom would you prefer to do heart surgery on you - a brand newly qualified Surgeon or an skilled and experienced Surgeon - and the medical profession is a perfect example of why a qualification is of itself of little value until the practitioner has gained sufficient experience in whatever area to be allowed to practise on their own.
HSE do not accept that a person needs to have "a Qualification" to demonstrate competence, if they did then there would be an awful lot of electricians out of work. The IET specify that holding an MIET or FIET qualification does not of itself confer qualification to work on electrical systems.

For clarity on the competence required that you need to go to EAW Regulation 16(d).
The guidance gives the following direction :

Technical knowledge or experience
239 The scope of ‘technical knowledge or experience’ should include:

(a) adequate knowledge of electricity;
(b) adequate experience of the electrical work being carried out;
(c) adequate understanding of the system to be worked on and practical experience of that class of system;
(d) understanding of the hazards which may arise during the work and the precautions which need to be taken;
(e) the ability to recognise at all times whether it is safe for work to continue.​